SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION OF FISHERMEN
BY TMSSS FISHERMEN ANIMATION CENTRE,
KALLAMOZHI.

The Diocese of Tuticorin errected in the year 1923 as "The territory of the pearl fishery Coast" covers 156 KM South eastern Coast of the Indian Peninsula. The Church has been engaged in the spiritual Ministry to the fishermen of this area for the past 70 years of so, without involving itself much in their Social Economic transformation. Studying the signs of the time, the Diocese atlest launched into a movement of Social transformation of fishermen in 1992 through its official wing of social work TMSSS.

The Problem : The Poor fishermen of this area were found to be living from hand to mouth due to their loan habit. The Loan was advanced by the rich money lenders of the villages on condition
that the indebted fishermen should sell their catches to them. These fishermen were unable to get just prices for their catches, the problem was to liberate them from the clutches of rich money
lenders and get just prices for their catches.

The Solution : It was decided that Fishermen Welfare Associations could be started which wold impart Social Education to these fishermen and gradually arrange loan facilities through Banks. So
that the rich money lenders may not interfere in the sale of fish. Thus, with in a period of two years 1994 - 1995, 27 fishermen Association were formed with a total membership of 1459. As of today
34 Fisheremen Association with a membership.

Mode of operations : All these Associations are self governed and are linked to each other under a Federation set up managed by TMSSS Fishermen Animation Centre formally called Federation of
Pearl fishery Coast formed by Rev.Fr. Stephen Gomez year 1997.

TMSSS Fishermen Animation Centre : Two issues were picked up and fishermen associations were formed with coastal villages in order to inculcate the habit of saving. Our efforts grew into a
success the story. With their savings as seed money deposits, fishermen were helped to avail themselves bank loan and thus freed from the clutches of money lenders.

In the Year 1998, the idea of revolving fund started gaining momentum and with the help of contribution of members, a revolving fund started and functioning. The Capital base of fishermen
federation's revolving fund was inadequate to meet the demands of the fishermen. In the year 2007 to meet the demands of the federation members the members currently to Contribute a sum of Rs.10,000/- each to strengthen the Revolving fund. In order to help the fishermen economy the federation framed strict rules and regulations to sanction loans to their members from this money. The Project Director of fishermen federation along with a team of qualified Committed Association leaders will be in charge of savings, Loan transactions and repayment of Loan. A minimum service charge will be collected for the financial help. The service charges would be allocated to the fishermen welfare Programmes of the federation members and their families.

The above process were governed by the Project Director of this federation.

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Text updated on May 11th 2023